Any notion that Arsene Wenger’s reign is coming towards an end was blown away in a passionate defence of his time in charge at Arsenal.

Wenger believes that he remains the best man for the job, and was very happy to tell his doubters just what he thinks.

As he takes the next step towards winning a third consecutive FA Cup, the Frenchman had been annoyed by a question from a TV reporter about pressure, his future and the likes of Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira all being linked with his job in the past week.

As soon as the cameras went off, he pounced on another query about whether the reaction from the fans would influence any talks over a new contract.

“I cannot influence the behaviour of the fans. How can I do that?” asked Wenger. “The question I got is after 19 years do you think you are good enough? I don’t know.”

When the journalist said it was not his view, but that of the fans, Wenger snapped back: “You are the guy who speaks to the fans. It’s not me. I am not on Twitter. I don’t invite anybody to go out to dinner and be nice with them.

“I work and work and work and work.

Elder statesman: But is the pressure getting to Wenger? (Photo: Getty)

“If it’s not good enough someone will tell me one day. That’s all I can do. I do not worry what you say about me or what fans say about me.

“I try to do my job in a proper way and with full commitment. After that everybody has the right to have an opinion. You do not make a decision if I continue my job or not.”

If there is one thing which really upsets Wenger - or more likely pricks his ego - it is would-be managers without his experience or track record being talked of as worthy successors to his throne.

That is why Wenger used to get irked when Jurgen Klopp was linked with Arsenal. In relative terms, Klopp is a new kid on the block compared to Wenger, who took over at Arsenal in 1996 and has overseen one of the most successful periods in the club’s history.

But his problem is that after difficult years of struggling to pay the mortgage on the Emirates, they are now able to compete financially with other big clubs and yet have been overtaken by Tottenham and Leicester in the table.

That is why the fans have become so annoyed as this is the season when Arsenal were supposed to roll back the years to Wenger’s early days when he won three titles in seven years.

But Arsenal find themselves clinging onto the coat tails of Tottenham and Leicester, they are almost certainly out of the Champions League and are now turning to the FA Cup as their best hope of silverware for a third successive season.

Not forgetting the fourth place trophy, of course.

Even though winning the FA Cup for a third year running - the first time since the 19th century - would be a huge achievement, the fans want the title and that is why they have become frustrated and angry.